The appointment of Tom Foley marks the start of an exciting new chapter for the INTERSPORT Group, as the company reinforces its commitment to strategic growth through strong collaboration with its 25 National Organisations and many Strategic Brand Partners.
He comes into the role with a wealth of international experience in competitive markets and a deep understanding of the sporting goods industry. Most recently, he held the position of Chief Executive Officer at GO SPORT, for whom he led a chain of stores and a network of International Franchises. He had previously been the company’s General Manager for the Middle East and had held the same title for Courir and NBA at the Al Mana Group. He is also the founder of the Independent Sports Retailers Alliance in Ireland, which he headed from September 2005 to January 2011.
Furthermore, Foley’s background includes his already preceeding career at INTERSPORT, having been the General Manager for INTERSPORT UK & Ireland for six years until 2017. This experience of collaboration with INTERSPORT’s Strategic Brand partners and National Organisations – alongside a proven track record in retail and strong alignment with INTERSPORT’s cooperative values and passion for sports – make Foley an ideal leader to steer the INTERSPORT Group forward, shared the company.
As CEO, Foley will focus on strengthening INTERSPORT’s global network, enhancing operational efficiency and reinforcing INTERSPORT’s position as a leading partner for its Strategic Brands. In addition to this, he will be committed to accelerating the development of the company’s brand and Private Label Brands, as well as leading INTERSPORT Group’s global transformation. This is with the goal of ensuring long-term success for partners, retailers and stakeholders, so that INTERSPORT can continue to deliver high-quality, personalised services for its customers around the world.
“I am excited to return to INTERSPORT and lead the Group into this next phase of transformation and growth, said Tom Foley. “It will be a privilege to build on the rich and long-standing legacy of supporting and empowering our local entrepreneurs in the industry across our diverse international markets”.
“The IIC Board of management is confident that Tom’s vision, leadership and strong collaborative mindset will bring new momentum and innovation to the INTERSPORT Group,” added Corinne Gensollen, Chairman of INTERSPORT International Corporation GmbH. “This marks an important new phase in INTERSPORT’s strategic growth, as we work closely with our Partners and National Organisations to keep delivering real value to our customers in 42 different markets.”
The appointment follows the recent announcement of the INTERSPORT Group’s positive financial results for 2024, with the calendar year closing with global omnichannel sales totalling 14 billion euros – an increase of 2.1% compared to 2023.
